HaberkipAbout 20 years old, the woman who was buried together with dozens of Relatives in one of the passage graves near the West Swedish town of Gökhem. A farmer's wi

Samples from grave in Sweden: researchers find new plague pathogen

About 20 years old, the woman who was buried together with dozens of Relatives in one of the passage graves near the West Swedish town of Gökhem. A farmer's wi

About 20 years old, the woman who was buried together with dozens of Relatives in one of the passage graves near the West Swedish town of Gökhem. A farmer's wife, she was, in the Prime of their lives standing. And, as researchers now believe show, she was an early victim of the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis. In the journal "Cell" describes a team of researchers from Sweden, Denmark and France, the discovery has helped the genetic family tree of the pathogen re-trace.

In the Remains of the woman, the researchers have demonstrated a previously unknown strain of the bacterium: It is at the same time evidence for the earliest known plague infection at all. Previously, scientists had assumed that the pathogen had come with the nomads the so-called Jamnaja culture before about 4800 years ago, to Europe. But when the woman died from the grave in Gökhem, were not these immigrants in the Region. In addition, the bacterium has genetic differences to the trunk, which was brought by them to Europe.

First pandemic in the history of the world?

Now, the researchers speculate that the newly discovered pathogen could be a reference to the first pandemic in the world history, there has been in consequence of a massive downturn in the population back to the stone age mega - settlements in Moldova, Romania and Ukraine. Is not assured, however.

a Devastating plague outbreaks on the continent had then, later in the 6. Century. The so-called Justinian plague had been raging, especially in the Mediterranean. In the Eastern Roman Empire, some historians died, according to estimates, up to half of all residents. Solid again flared up the disease was back in the middle ages. At the time the speech was from the Black death. According to estimates, at least 25 million Victims in Europe, one-third of the then population of Europe - probably even significantly more.

The plague is not defeated until today, and currently in Madagascar. Doctors distinguish lung and bubonic plague. The disease is transmitted by infected fleas, which can pass from rodents such as rats on Pets and people. Some researchers even hold a new plague pandemic is possible.